TNAG-1858-FCO40-2633-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 36

2070

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

- 5 July 1989

I will not change my stand of staying in Hong Kong. I was born in Hong Kong. However, even if the right of abode is offered to me, I will not take it. In my understanding, the right of abode is a basic right Hong Kong people are entitled to. I respect people's right to be free from fear. I cannot ignore the wish of the people. I firmly believe that wherever they go, they will still be proud of being a Chinese and will continue to contribute every effort and enthusiasm towards the realization of a truly democratic China under the rule of law with freedoms and human rights. These are the reasons I take part in the Hong Kong People Saving Hong Kong Campaign. I hope I can gain understanding from those who have misunderstood the issue.

Sir, with these remarks, I support the motion.

MR. TAI: Sir, may I take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for all the effort and thought you applied in supporting our case in the United Kingdom and before the Foreign Affairs Committee especially in regard to the right of abode issue. Also, at the Geneva Conference you spoke most effectively on the Vietnamese boat people issue for and on behalf of Hong Kong. Regarding the nationality issue and the deep-rooted distaste of the United Kingdom Parliament to grant the right of abode to British subjects in Hong Kong, your stand as Governor of Hong Kong by sticking your neck out for Hong Kong over what the United Kingdom Parliament finds to be a particularly unsavoury issue clearly demonstrated your personal commitment to the well-being of this territory.

Through the process of decolonization by the United Kingdom from the early 1960s, the United Kingdom has been faced with the problem of immigrants from her various dominions during her empire days, largely from Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Immigration has been a nightmare for politicians in the United Kingdom. To them, moral and constitutional responsibility, as history can tell us, comes second in importance to the issue of immigration. From the 1960s onwards, Britain has begun to gradually dissociate herself from Hong Kong. Frightened by the large immigration flow from Africa and the Indian subcontinent and fearing a similar eventuality in respect of Hong Kong from 1960s onwards she gradually closed her door to Hong Kong. She did this by a series of immigration and nationality Acts which classified Hong Kong passport holders as second class citizens. This very intent is again demonstrated in the United Kingdom memorandum in the Sino-British Joint Declaration which expressly stated that BDTCs do not have the right of abode in the United Kingdom.

The efforts by the Administration and by our Senior Members to champion the cause of Hong Kong people's right of abode in order to alleviate the present confidence crisis arising out of the tragic event in Beijing, knowing the difficulties involved, have clearly demonstrated our conviction to maintain our stability during this transitional period.